CPSC Warns of Dangers After a Hurricane or Power Outage Hits, Carbon Monoxide from Portable Generators Can Kill You in Minutes

May 24, 2006

Release Number: 06-169

During Hurricane Preparedness Week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to take steps to safeguard their families when using a portable generator. If your power is out due to a hurricane, or for any reason, operating your generator safely can mean the difference between life and death.

The exhaust from generators contains poisonous carbon monoxide, an odorless, invisible killer. "The amount of carbon monoxide from one generator is equivalent to hundreds of idling cars," said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. "Carbon monoxide from a portable generator can kill you and your family in minutes."

In 2005, at least 55 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with portable generators. The aftermath of last year's four major hurricanes resulted in a majority (28) of those deaths.

CPSC urges consumers to follow these safety tips when operating a portable generator after a storm or other event that has caused a power outage.

- Never use a portable generator indoors, including in your home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed or partially-enclosed area – even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home.

- Only use a portable generator outdoors in a dry area far away from doors, windows and vents that can allow CO to come indoors.

- Get to fresh air right away if you start to feel dizzy or weak. The CO from generators can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death.

- Plug appliances into a heavy duty, outdoor-rated extension cords and plug the cords into the generator.

- If you are concerned about theft, secure your generator outside.

To reach consumers with this lifesaving information, CPSC has developed new warning labels for newly manufactured generators. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has adopted the same labels in its new procedure for certifying portable generators. Any manufacturer that wants the UL certification will have to place the new warning label on its generators. Generators must also have ground fault circuit interrupters to prevent electrocution if they get wet.

CPSC Chairman Stratton said, "If we can keep people from using a generator indoors, in a partially-enclosed area or anywhere close to their home, these labels have done their job."

Last fall, Stratton directed CPSC staff to undertake a comprehensive safety review of portable generators. That review is ongoing.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of
thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the
nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or
mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household
chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the
Commission.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at
(301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing
to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.

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